Inside The Suns

NBA Leaves Suns Off Christmas Day Schedule

The Phoenix Suns will be home for the holidays.
Donnie Druin|
Apr 11, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

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Phoenix Suns

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns were - perhaps unsurprisingly - left off the NBA's 2025 Christmas Day slate of games.

As reported by NBA insider Shams Charania, the following matchups will occur on what's arguably the biggest day of the regular season slate:

  • Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
  • San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Houston Rockets at LA Lakers
  • Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
  • Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets

The Suns had previously played in the last four Christmas Day games for the league.

Why Aren't Phoenix Suns Playing on Christmas?

The Suns, from top to bottom, have undergone some massive cosmetic changes since the end of last regular season. Phoenix replaced seats such as general manager and head coach on top of getting rid of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal moving into the 2025-26 season.

Time will tell if those ultimately were the right moves, though there's no denying something had to be done after Phoenix missed the postseason for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

Though Devin Booker is still a great piece to have, the league probably views the Suns as a team who might not be as good nor marketable with Durant out of town.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booke
Apr 9, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Phoenix does hope to be competitive this season with new veteran faces in Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks on top of rookie draft picks Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea.

The Suns are 13-9 playing on Christmas Day, though they won't get an opportunity to extend that record this season.

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Donnie Druin
DONNIE DRUIN

Donnie Druin is the Publisher for Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns On SI. Donnie moved to Arizona in 2012 and has been with the company since 2018. In college he won "Best Sports Column" in the state of Arizona for his section and has previously provided coverage for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona State Sun Devils. Follow Donnie on Twitter @DonnieDruin for more news, updates, analysis and more!

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